Accelerated RN-BSN-MSN Online Degree Pathway
New Accelerated Online Degree Pathway for Nursing Students
The official Accelerated RN-BSN-MSN pathways is currently in the proposal stage and is expected to be available beginning in the Fall 2025 semester pending full approval.
The Accelerated RN-BSN-MSN Pathway at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) offers a streamlined and flexible way for associate degree registered nurses to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). This innovative program is designed to help you achieve your academic and career goals efficiently while maintaining the flexibility to meet your individual needs.
RN to BSN to MSN Online Degree Pathway Program Highlights
- Efficient Pathway: Earn both your BSN and MSN degrees in a streamlined program that saves time and money.
- Flexible Options: Choose to complete your BSN and continue seamlessly into the MSN program or stop at the BSN if it meets your career goals.
- 100% Online Coursework: Study from anywhere with fully online classes designed to accommodate working professionals.
- Personalized Support: Benefit from dedicated faculty and advisors who are committed to your success.
- Accredited Excellence: MSUM’s nursing programs are fully accredited, ensuring high-quality education and recognized credentials.
Who Should Apply for the RN to BSN to MSN Program?
This pathway is designed for:
- Registered Nurses with an associate degree looking to advance their education and career.
- Professionals seeking a flexible, online program tailored to their busy schedules.
- RNs who want the option to pursue advanced nursing roles, such as leadership, education, or specialized care.
RN-BSN-MSN Program Structure
- Phase 1: RN to BSN: Complete the RN-BSN application process and degree.
- Be eligible for the Minnesota Public Health Nurse (PHN) Registration Certificate!!
- Phase 2: MSN: In the final semester of the BSN degree completion, seamlessly transition into the MSN program – by completing the MSN application process.
- The MSN curriculum offers optional emphases in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership, preparing you for advanced practice roles and transformative leadership in healthcare.
Total Program Credits
- RN-BSN Core: 21 credits
- Dual Credit Courses: 10 credits
- count toward both your BSN and MSN degree completion
- Remaining MSN Core & Optional Emphasis: 22 - 31 credits
*120 credits total to earn a bachelor’s degree and follow the Undergraduate Graduation Requirements Policy. Prior coursework must be evaluated to determine the exact credits needed to be awarded the bachelor's degree. Students will work with their assigned academic advisor to determine a progression plan that is best for them.
Accelerated RN to BSN to MSN Generalist Emphasis Online Degree Pathway Sample Course Sequencing
The sample plan below is just one example of how you can complete the accelerated RN-BSN-MSN Generalist pathway in an efficient manner. If you have already fulfilled some requirements your individualized plan may be shorter. The program progression is completely customizable to what works for you. Just work with your faculty advisor on your individual needs.
The four-year RN-BSN degree available from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) include requires the satisfactory completion of 120 credits of college courses and includes 42 credits in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC), from 32-64 credits in a major area, and the remainder in electives.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing & Master of Science in Nursing Generalist
- Total Credits: 142-151 credits total (depending on prior coursework)
- Catalog: 2024-2025
First Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (1st Fall) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: WI | NURS 301 | Transitions | 4 |
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 303 | Holistic Family Nursing | 4 |
| Total Credits: 8 | |||
|
You are required to follow the Graduate Courses Taken by Undergraduate Students Policy requirements and complete the Request for MSUM Undergraduate to Register for Graduate Credit at MSUM form to register for the BSN and MSN dual courses in your 1st Summer. |
|||
| Winter (1st Winter) | |||
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 502 | Healthcare Statistics Foundations | 1 |
| Total Credits: 1 | |||
| Spring (1st Spring) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 348L | Public Health Nursing | 4 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 615 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| Summer (1st Summer) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 420 | Gerontological Nursing | 3 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 610 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Second Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (2nd Fall) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 472 | Leadership and Professional Development | 3 |
| RN-BSN Core Course: WI for major | NURS 473 | Professional Pathways | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| *Apply to MSN graduate admission provisional admission choose Generalist emphasis. | |||
| Spring (2nd Spring) | |||
| MSN Core Course | NURS 638 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 662 | Patho, Pharm, Physical Assessment for Health Professionals | 3 |
| *Confer BSN degree and formally admitted to the MSN graduate program. | |||
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Summer (2nd Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 600 | Nursing Science, Ethical and Transcultural Theories | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 650 | Organizational Strategy and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Third Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (3rd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 605 | Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Management | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 628 | Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy, and Reimbursement | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 629 | Educational Foundations and Teaching Strategies | 4 |
| Total Credits: 9 | |||
| Spring (3rd Spring) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 643P | Advanced Nursing Educator Practicum Capstone II | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 695 | Professional Portfolio | 1 |
| Total Credits: 4 | |||
| *Confer MSN graduate degree if NURS 695 is completed successfully. | |||
|
Notes: Please note. You should check with your employer and/or Financial Aid as they may require additional term credits for full-time funding.
|
*Official degree requirements can only be found in the MSUM Bulletin/Catalog. The information on this webpage is a high-level overview of the degree. Please refer to the bulletin for up-to-date requirements.
Accelerated RN to BSN to MSN Nurse Educator (NED) Emphasis Online Degree Pathway Sample Course Sequencing
The sample plan below is just one example of how you can complete the accelerated RN-BSN-MSN Nurse Educator (NED) pathway in an efficient manner. If you have already fulfilled some requirements your individualized plan may be shorter. The program progression is completely customizable to what works for you. Just work with your faculty advisor on your individual needs.
The four-year RN-BSN degree available from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) include requires the satisfactory completion of 120 credits of college courses and includes 42 credits in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC), from 32-64 credits in a major area, and the remainder in electives.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing & Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Educator (NED) Emphasis
- Total Credits: 142-151 credits total (depending on prior coursework)
- Catalog: 2024-2025
First Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (1st Fall) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: WI | NURS 301 | Transitions | 4 |
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 303 | Holistic Family Nursing | 4 |
| Total Credits: 8 | |||
|
You are required to follow the Graduate Courses Taken by Undergraduate Students Policy requirements and complete the Request for MSUM Undergraduate to Register for Graduate Credit at MSUM form to register for the BSN and MSN dual courses in your 1st Summer. |
|||
| Winter (1st Winter) | |||
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 502 | Healthcare Statistics Foundations | 1 |
| Total Credits: 1 | |||
| Spring (1st Spring) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 348L | Public Health Nursing | 4 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 615 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| Summer (1st Summer) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 420 | Gerontological Nursing | 3 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 610 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Second Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (2nd Fall) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 472 | Leadership and Professional Development | 3 |
| RN-BSN Core Course: WI for major | NURS 473 | Professional Pathways | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| *Apply to MSN graduate admission provisional admission choose Nurse Educator emphasis. | |||
| Spring (2nd Spring) | |||
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 662 | Patho, Pharm, Physical Assessment for Health Professionals | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 638 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| *Confer BSN degree and formally admitted to the MSN graduate program. | |||
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Summer (2nd Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 600 | Nursing Science, Ethical and Transcultural Theories | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 650 | Organizational Strategy and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Third Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (3rd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 605 | Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Management | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 628 | Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy, and Reimbursement | 3 |
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 629 | Educational Foundations and Teaching Strategies | 4 |
| Total Credits: 9 | |||
| Spring (3rd Spring) | |||
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 639 | Curriculum/Course Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 643P | Advanced Nursing Educator Practicum Capstone II | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Summer (3rd Summer) | |||
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 649 | Nursing Education Assessment, Testing, and Evaluation Strategies | 3 |
| Total Credits: 3 | |||
Fourth Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (4th Fall) | |||
| MSN NED Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 642P | Advanced Nurse Educator Practicum Capstone I | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 695 | Professional Portfolio | 1 |
| Total Credits: 4 | |||
| *Confer MSN graduate degree if NURS 695 is completed successfully. | |||
|
Notes: Please note. You should check with your employer and/or Financial Aid as they may require additional term credits for full-time funding.
|
*Official degree requirements can only be found in the MSUM Bulletin/Catalog. The information on this webpage is a high-level overview of the degree. Please refer to the bulletin for up-to-date requirements.
Accelerated RN to BSN to MSN Nurse Leader (NL) Emphasis Online Degree Pathway Sample Course Sequencing
The sample plan below is just one example of how you can complete the accelerated RN-BSN-MSN Nurse Leader (NL) pathway in an efficient manner. If you have already fulfilled some requirements your individualized plan may be shorter. The program progression is completely customizable to what works for you. Just work with your faculty advisor on your individual needs.
The four-year RN-BSN degree available from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) include requires the satisfactory completion of 120 credits of college courses and includes 42 credits in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum (LASC), from 32-64 credits in a major area, and the remainder in electives.
- Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing & Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Leader (NL) Emphasis
- Total Credits: 142-151 credits total (depending on prior coursework)
- Catalog: 2024-2025
First Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (1st Fall) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: WI | NURS 301 | Transitions | 4 |
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 303 | Holistic Family Nursing | 4 |
| Total Credits: 8 | |||
|
You are required to follow the Graduate Courses Taken by Undergraduate Students Policy requirements and complete the Request for MSUM Undergraduate to Register for Graduate Credit at MSUM form to register for the BSN and MSN dual courses in your 1st Summer. |
|||
| Winter Term (1st Winter) | |||
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 502 | Healthcare Statistics Foundations | 1 |
| Total Credits: 1 | |||
| Spring (1st Spring) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 348L | Public Health | 4 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 615 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice | 4 |
| Total Credits: 7 | |||
| Summer (1st Summer) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 420 | Gerontological Nursing | 3 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 610 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Second Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (2nd Fall) | |||
| RN-BSN Core Course: | NURS 472 | Leadership and Professional Development | 3 |
| RN-BSN Core Course: WI for major | NURS 473 | Professional Pathways | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| *Apply to MSN graduate admission provisional admission choose Nurse Leader emphasis. | |||
| Spring (2nd Spring) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 638 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| BSN and MSN Dual Course: | NURS 662 | Patho, Pharm, Physical Assessment for Health Professionals | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| *Confer BSN degree and formally admitted to the MSN graduate program. | |||
| Summer (2nd Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 600 | Nursing Science, Ethical and Transcultural Theories | 3 |
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 650 | Organizational Strategy and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
Third Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (3rd Fall) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 605 | Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Management | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 628 | Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy, and Reimbursement | 3 |
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 629 | Educational Foundations and Teaching Strategies | 3 |
| Total Credits: 9 | |||
| Spring (3rd Spring) | |||
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | MHA 619 | Applied Financial Management | 3 |
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 645P | Nursing Adm. & Org Systems Leadership Practicum Capstone II | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| Summer (3rd Summer) | |||
| MSN Core Course: | NURS 695 | Professional Portfolio | 1 |
| Total Credits: 1 | |||
Fourth Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (4th Fall) | |||
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | MHA 618 | Healthcare Law and Ethical Decision-Making | 3 |
| MSN NL Emphasis Core Course: | NURS 644P | Nursing Adm. & Org Systems Leadership Practicum Capstone I | 3 |
| Total Credits: 6 | |||
| *Confer MSN graduate degree if NURS 695 is completed successfully. | |||
|
Notes: Please note. You should check with your employer and/or Financial Aid as they may require additional term credits for full-time funding.
|
*Official degree requirements can only be found in the MSUM Bulletin/Catalog. The information on this webpage is a high-level overview of the degree. Please refer to the bulletin for up-to-date requirements.
Why Choose MSUM?
- Career Advancement: Graduates of the RN-BSN-MSN Pathway are well-prepared to take on leadership roles, educator positions, and specialized nursing opportunities.
- Affordable Tuition: MSUM offers competitive tuition rates with financial aid and scholarships available.
- Supportive Environment: Our faculty are experienced, accessible, and invested in your academic and professional success.
Take the Next Step
Advance your nursing career with MSUM’s Accelerated RN-BSN-MSN Pathway. Whether you’re looking to broaden your impact in healthcare or achieve your dream of becoming a nurse leader or educator, this pathway is designed to help you succeed.
Start Your Journey Today! Apply Now
Embark on your path to excellence with MSUM's Accelerated RN-BSN-MSN Pathway!
Questions? Contact Us
If you want more information or have questions, please contact one of the program coordinators below.